Emilee Unterkoefler
Making homemade caramel apples is a great activity the whole family can get involved in. From preparing your apples to coating them with caramel, each step is full of festive fun.
While making a basic caramel apple is fun, our favorite part, of course, is embellishing each apple with exciting ingredients. If you need a little inspiration for choosing the perfect toppings, we’ve got you covered. Check out these 18 ways to dress up your homemade caramel apples.
Melted Chocolate Drizzle
Here is a simple way to pretty up your apples. After they have cooled and slightly hardened, melt chocolate and place it in a squeeze bottle. Drizzle the apple with melted chocolate and create a lovely looking snack.
Mini Marshmallows
You can carefully place a handful of marshmallows on the caramel-coated apple. You’ll have the best combination of crisp and tart mixed with light and fluffy.
S’mores Caramel Apple
Bonfires are always a fun fall activity and often involve cooking s’mores over the open flame. If you’d like a caramel apple version, try this one. After dipping your apple in caramel, drizzle melted chocolate and add crushed graham cracker and mini marshmallows to create a s’mores treat.
Crushed Candy Bar
Place your candy bar in a plastic baggie; then use a rolling pin to crush the bar. You can do this by rolling or lightly tapping the rolling pin over the candy bar. Either sprinkle or dip your apple right in the crushed candy.
Chopped Nuts
This one is a classic for caramel apples. You can use peanuts, cashews, walnuts, or even pecans. After your apple is coated with caramel, dip it in a bowl of chopped nuts and enjoy. For a sweet and savory flair, try dipping in salted nuts.
White Chocolate Spider Web
If you’re hoping for a little bit of a spooky twist, create a white chocolate spider web. Melt white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and pour it into a squeeze bottle. Then carefully draw lines from the center of the apple, where the stick is located. After you draw several vertical lines, connect each with a curved line as pictured above.
Mini Chocolate Chips
Dip your fruit in a bowl of mini chocolate chips or sprinkle some all around. You can also choose to use peanut butter chips or any flavor of your choice.
Crushed Oreos
People of all ages love Oreos. They taste great on their own or immersed in cold milk, so why not crush them up and cover your apple with them? This cookies-and-cream version of a caramel apple is simply delicious.
Chopped Candy Corn
Candy Corn is a “love it or hate it” type of candy. If you fall on the “love it” side, grab a handful, chop it up, and sprinkle some on to your caramel apple.
Sprinkles
Sprinkles are another classic way to decorate your caramel apple. Simply choose your favorite type (rainbow, Halloween colored, or chocolate) and dip your apple in a bowl full of sprinkles. If you don’t want that many, you can also scatter some on.
Chopped Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
Peanut butter goes great with apples, which is why Reese’s are the perfect topping for this fruit. Chop some up and place individual pieces around the bottom for a fancy appeal.
Sprinkled Sea Salt
Salted Caramel is another fan-favorite flavor. Sprinkle a little bit of sea salt right on top of the caramel and have yourself a bite.
Crushed Pretzels
Crush up some pretzels and dip your apple in for another great salted caramel version. You’ll get crispy, crunchy, salty, and sweet all in one bite.
Mummy Caramel Apple
Melt white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and carefully pour it into a squeeze bottle. After your caramel apple has been dipped and cooled, place two eyeball sprinkles side by side on the apple. Then drizzle white chocolate all around the apple until it looks like a mummy, but make sure the eyes are visible. This is a great one for Halloween parties.
Peanut Butter Drizzle
You may also melt a little bit of peanut butter and drizzle it right over the apple. However, this one gets a little messy, so grab your napkins and enjoy.
M&M’s
Kids especially love this fun and tasty decoration. Either dip your apple in a bowl of M&M’s or sprinkle some right on the apple and enjoy the crunchy sweet snack. You can even give your kids a fun project by having them create smiley faces with M&M’s.
Shaved Coconut
Coconut gives a fresh new taste to this sweet snack. You can get creative, and dip half of the apple, or coat the whole fruit.
Your Favorite Cereal
Whether you love fruit loops, or lucky charms is your thing, cereal makes an excellent coating for these apples. Have your kids choose a fun, colorful cereal and coat your apple for a crunchy and yummy bite.
